For with another part of his mind he felt the encroachment…
““For with another part of his mind he felt the encroachment of a chilling fear, eclipsing all other feelings, that the thing they wanted was coming for him alone, before he was ready for it; it was a fear worse than the fear that when money was low one would have to stop drinking; it was compounded of harrowed longing and hatred, fathomless compunctions, and of a paradoxical remorse, for his failure to attempt finally something he was not going to have time for, to face the world honestly; it was the shadow of a city of dreadful night without splendour that fell on his soul.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A character is overwhelmed by a complex, paralyzing fear that mixes dread, longing, hatred, and regret, reflecting existential dread and self‑judgment.
In simple terms: He feels a deep, confusing fear about confronting his failures.
Key Takeaway
Confront inner fears before they dominate.
Themes
existential dread
paralysis
regret
self‑judgment
Mood
melancholy
introspective
tense
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- creative block
- relationship tension
- career crossroads
- spiritual questioning
Key Concepts
psychology
existentialism
inner conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this fear reveal about his true desires?
- How can one move past paralyzing regret?
A Different Perspective
Fear can be both a warning and a barrier, not always actionable.